Professionalism in construction in developing countries: an economic governance perspective

Kaixun Sha and Shaoyan Wu

Chapter 10 in Research Companion to Advances in the Construction Industry in the Global South, 2026, pp 221-244 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: The main principles of professionalism in construction are examined theoretically, including its inherent attribute (what) and the reason for its existence (why). The ways in which professionals and their institutions work (how) are investigated historically and comparatively, taking the UK and China as the background respectively. Professionalism is conceptualized as a community-based governance structure, with the focus being put on the three-party interactions among markets, governments, and professionals as the third force in the construction industry. It is found that uncritically accepting so-called international practice that often means the practice of developed countries is undesirable, and that the success or failure of professionalism in China's construction industry is largely dependent on whether the government can change its overly dominant role in the economy. In conclusion, there is no “best” but rather the “most suitable” approach to professionalism in construction, which entails applying its fundamental principles in a contingent manner.

Keywords: Professional system; Construction industry; Governance; Comparative perspective; Contingency approach; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035349012
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